I note you[re on argent dawn the biggest RP realms. being on an RP realm might actually be the cause of the issue.
Dornogal doesn’t appear to be heavily phased once you’re out of the intro quests.
I assume you’re not aware, RP realms have their own shard pool. Unless someone from a ‘normal’ realm has in invite you’ll only see RP realm players.
On a normal realm you’d probably have most of the level cap population in the newest capital however I’d bet that on RP realms you’ll find more people scattered throughout the world, and proportionally more lower levels. This is what will make Dornogal much more empty.
Sharding is probably the solution to your RP issue!
I’ve always thought that the RP community should be addressed more directly, since there are servers dedicated to it. Sure, it’s a minority, so I’m not expecting to be the top priority but atleast every now and then it would be fine. Lately it looks like they’re recognizing it a bit more so I feel like it’s the right time for asking. I believe a dedicated layer access tool should be relatively easy to create and pretty useful, maybe something like the warmode toggle button.
Huh. I recall once upon a time ago that RP Servers would be spared from heavy use of layerings and phasing. Is that not the case anymore?
I am under the impression that something must’ve gone bust in Tirisfal Glades specifically, as that Bronze Dragon is just… Absent for me on all my characters. I suppose I need to do the quest to reclaim Undercity, but I just… Can’t be bothered with doing it more than once. Certainly can agree with a more optimal way of accessing zone phases/layers outside of grouping up with someone or talking to a floating chronomage that might not be there half the time.
But hey, at least it can’t be worse than ESO (Yet, anyway). Since that game lets you build a dungeon out of a player house, it makes for an already fragmented world even more fragmented.
Pushing aside all of the comments from people who’re being their usual valley-girl selves… There is definitely something to observe about Roleplay settings typically attracting very progressive-minded people. Speaking as someone who has a few years under her belt being a Roleplayer on and off.
Do I have an explanation? None that I can really think of, but it’s certainly an anomaly… And a pretty annoying one.
I’ve had some good times in Roleplay, and some bad times… Really bad times, like being past my bedtime in my teen years and not being allowed to leave whilst being tortured kind of bad (During the Wrath of the Lich King years).
But the good times were good, like finding a group to hang out with that would sometimes make sessions go for 2-3 hours between a group of four. I do kinda miss those times, but I have a strong impression I wouldn’t get along with the average Argent Dawn players without them wanting to use a console command and disable me like an NPC in Skyrim (If you know what I mean, then you probably know)
I’m honestly not surprised to hear that one sect of Roleplayers, those on the more social side (whilst geared for war as an added bonus) would have some kind of delight out of the faction war being a bygone thing.
That being said, the war might be gone, but it’s not like skirmishes and campaigns against an NPC threat isn’t possible… Is it? Like putting together a story about how in the ruins of New Hearthglen (Or whatever is the name of that place during the Death Knight starting scenario), there have been sightings of the dead coming to life and people are sent out there to investigate. Or an archaeologist is calling for people to explore some ruins which then segways into a local threat that’d be best gotten rid of.
I 'unno, some ideas off the top of my head.
I never really liked those. The times I did pop in on those I probably stayed for at least ten minutes before leaving because it felt like one of those “Let us guild leaders dance around in the spotlight while the plebs watch us” things.
While I think the overall approach to RP-PvP matured over time (probably due to the participants growing up to be honest), there absolutely was a time where, if you weren’t the GM or an officer, you were basically there as an extra on the set.
Like Elisà, I’ve always found the more story-driven angles on RP more enjoyable. It feels more like even footed cooperation and creative fun, and in the instances where conflict comes into play, the stakes feel much more interesting when your character has a personal grievance to address.
Yeah, now that you remind me, there was a worrying amount of rp that ended up with some late night torture during wotlk
Too many boring squares and control freaks in rp.
I love those! I’m always part of the plebs guarding the stable, working in the kitchen or such. But I always try to spur up some rp rebellion like stealing jewelry from the high and mighty guild leaders or convincing the rest of the guards that horse of the most obnoxious guild leader is actually possessed by a demon that must be exorcised right here, right now.
I do get the impression that most, as you say, want to disable me with console commands but I probably have had the best rp of my life with those that are totally onboard.
It’s all good fun.
I meant more that they’d want you to be… not alive. I just used that reference because when you disable an NPC in Skyrim, they disappear.
However, you aren’t wrong with that sentiment.
I tried joining some of those scenarios in my past, but I never really had that much fun. Not to mention that being a recruit and someone who didn’t have the kind of luxury to spend late evenings roleplaying, I never managed to “Make a name for myself” in those guilds before inevitably leaving or being kicked because I didn’t intergrate well.
They can be really fun. But also very boring. Depends on the people involved.
The main story can usually be pretty neat and some organizers really go out their way to include everyone but more often than not I find it’s mostly just for the highest ranking involved and the rest are background characters.
That’s when I try make my own little scenario parallel to the “main story” with a couple of plebs I connect with there. It often turns into a more fun and laid back thing which is a nice refresher from the often serious-all-the-time rp groups.
The luxury to play late night/early morning is really something you’d want imo. The rp magic™ mostly happens at around 3-4am
Yeah, RP servers used to be spared from a lot of layering and phasing, but that definitely doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Especially in places like Tirisfal, where Zidormi is either missing or just refuses to cooperate. Having to redo the questline every time for each character is frustrating, especially when all you want is to exist in the world you’re trying to RP in. It really breaks immersion when half your group is staring at ruins and the other half sees a functional town. and that the groups are split.
I get where you’re coming from about RP structures—some events can feel like a stage where only a few get the spotlight, while others don’t get much to do. It’s why I love the more organic, story-driven RP that encourages character involvement beyond just being a ‘bystander.’ The best RP moments aren’t necessarily the grand battles, or big crowds, but the unexpected, personal stories that emerge from them.
Thanks for sharing your experiences—it’s always interesting to see how RP has evolved for different people over time.
late-night RP really does have a certain magic to it. Something about those 3-4AM conversations by a dying campfire or planning a ritual under the moonlight that just hits different.
Shadows watch over you. 